Hunter{3 s blind and shelter

ABSTRACT

A portable hunter&#39;&#39;s blind and shelter having fabric walls distended over and attached to portable wall frame structures which are pivotally and removably attached to each other so that the size and shape of the hunter&#39;&#39;s blind may be varied to suit the needs of the hunter and the terrain of the hunting site. Further, the hunter&#39;&#39;s blind and shelter may include a removable ceiling for shelter from rain and the like. The hunter&#39;&#39;s shelter also includes closable shooting openings in the fabric wall.

[ Oct. 21, 1975 3,565,152 2/1971 Cohn et 160/135 3,690,334 9/1972 135/4 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 723,503 2/1955 United Kingdom......... 160/352 360,780 4/1962 Switzerland. 160/229 R Primary Examiner-Pau1 R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-David I-l. Corbin Attorney, Agent, or FirmGiff0rd, Chandler & Sheridan [57] ABSTRACT A portable hunters blind and shelter having fabric walls distended over and attached to portable wall frame structures which are pivotally and removably attached to each other so that the size and shape of Appleton, Detroit, Mich. 48239; Howard Glutting, 26300 Springfield Drive, Farmington, Mich. 48024 Sept. 17, 1973 Appl. No.: 397,976

135/4 R; 160/135; 160/229 Int. A45F 1/16 52/760; 135/4 R, 5 R, 5 B, 135/7.1 R; 160/135, 229, 230, 352, 354, 351

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Glutting, Jr. et a1.

[ HUNTERS BLIND AND SHELTER [76] Inventors: Roy H. Glutting, Jr., 11696 [22] Filed:

[58] Field of Search......

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U.S. Patent 001.21, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,913,598

g a WW/W IFTg-8 HUNTERS BLIND AND SHELTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to portable coverings formed of flexible material and frames and supports for the same. In particular, the invention pertains to a bun ters blind and shelter having a novel frame which allows the user to change the size and shape of the blind to suit various situations and the terrain of the hunting site.

II. Description of the Prior Art There are a number of prior art hunting blinds. One such blind includes a housing of flexible material supported over a frame. The frame has a plurality of vertical members each being hinged between its ends so that the members may be folded in half for transportation and storage purposes. Inwardly inclined top members join at a common center. Another blind presently in use consists of an inflatable wall structure. A further blind completely encompasses the upper torso of the hunter and is strapped to his body to be carried from place to place by the hunter. There are a number of blinds which are in the form of screens having a mural on their front surface depicting an animal or plants, behind which a hunter crouches while waiting for game to appear.

No previous device known to us provides the combined attributes of the present invention, viz., a simple, inexpensive hunters blind and shelter having panels which are connected together by hinges which allow the hunter to change the size and shape of the blind by installing and removing selected panels to suit the requirements of various size hunting parties and the terrain of different hunting sites and which is stably retained its various selected configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a variable size and shape hunters blind and shelter formed of a number of fabric covered wall frame members being hinged in adjacent side-by-side relationship to each other. The fabric covering is retained on the wall frame members by snaps or ties and includes closable shooting and viewing openings. Novel hinges allow for pivotal movement of the wall frame members relative to each other and for the addition and removal of selected wall frame members so that the size and shape of the blind may be altered to suit the particular circumstances. Further, once a size and configuration is determined the wall frames are locked in position by removable locking members to produce a stable structure. The invention also contemplates a removable overhead support structure to support a fabric ceiling to provide additional protection from the elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONN OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a top view of a hinge installed on components of two adjacent wall frame members, the wall frame members being illustrated in cross section;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a component of one wall frame member and a fragment of a fabric wall illustrating the fastening means by which the fabric wall is fastened to the wall frame members;

FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of a hunters blind comprosed of three wall frame members;

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a hunters blind comprised of four wall frame members, a fabric ceiling and a rear flap;

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a four-walled hunters blind showing the structure of the wall frame members and a removable ceiling support member; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 for use by an archer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a hunters blind and shelter, generally denoted as 10, having two panels 12. Each panel 12 is formed of a frame comprising two vertically disposed spaced apart parallel standards 14 and 16, a top cross member 18 horizontally disposed across the top of the panel and connected at one end to a top end of standard 14 and at its opposite end of standard 16, and a bottom cross member 20 horizontally disposed across the bottom of the panel 12 and connected at one end to a bottom end of standard 14 and at the other end to a bottom end of standard 16. It should be understood that the top cross member 18 and bottom cross member 20 may be connected to the standards 14 and 16 by, for example, resistance welding or may be integral therewith. Cross members 22a and 2212 are disposed between and generally parallel to the top cross member 18 and bottom cross member 20. The cross member 22a is disposed away from cross member 20 at a distance somewhat greater than one third of the distance between the cross members 20 and 18 while the cross member 22a is disposed at a position away form cross member 18 less than one third of the distance between the cross member 18 and 20 for a reason which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. In additon, diagonally disposed braces 24 are incorporated between the cross members 22a and 22b to strengthen the frame. These diagonal braces are illustrated as generally V-shaped members connected at their apexes 25 to the cross member 22b and at each of its end 27, 29 to a different standard 14, 16, respectively.

Each of the cross members 22a and 22b has curved or arcuately shaped ends 26, 28. The arcuately shaped ends concavely face each other, i.e., concavely face toward the center of the frame. Each end of the cross member 22a and 22b is attached to a different standard. In the drawings, each cross member 22a and 22b is illustrated as being connected at one of its ends 26 to the standard 14 and at the other of its ends 28 to the standard 16. These intermediate cross members may be connected to the standards by, for example, resistance welding.

The hunters blind and shelter l0 isformed by fastening together any number of wall panels 12 with a plurality of generally S-shaped hinges 30. FIG. 1 shows two panels 12 located in side-by-side relationship, such that the standard 14 of one of the panels is adjacent the standard 16 of another panel.

A plurality of the S-shaped hinges 30 removably and pivotally interconnect the standard 14 of one panel 12 to the standard 16 of another panel 12 so that the panels 12 may pivot about, or on the S-shaped hinges 30, so that they may be oriented at any predetermined angle to each other.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and more clearly shows the hinge 30 pivotally interconnecting the standard 14 of one panel to the standard 16 of another panel. The S-shaped hinge 30 includes an opening 32 into one of its loops 33 and an opposite facing opening 34 into its other loop 35 which clampingly receive the standards 14 and 16, respectively. The loop 33 includes a lip 36 adjacent the opening 32 and the loop 35 includes a lip 37 adjacent the opening 34 to act as guides for the standards 14 and 16 as they are inserted into the openings 32 and 34 and to function as cam surfaces which, through the coaction with standards 14 and 16, enlarge the openings 32 and 34 to enable the standards 14 and 16 to enter the loops 33 and 35. Further, the S-shaped hinges 30 are formed of a material having a relatively high module of elasticity, such as spring steel. These S-shaped hinges allow for the removal or addition of any number of panels 12 so that a blind of any width and of various shapes may be easily constructed at the hunting site without the use of tools.

When a blind 10 having the selected number of panels l2 and desired angles between the panel 12 is constructed, it is desirable to restrain the panels 12 from further pivotal movement with respect to each other so that a stable blind 10 is produced. This is accomplished with removable lock members 38. FIG. 1 illustrates the blind 10 having the lock members 38 in place thereon. FIG. 2 more clearly shows the lock member 38 and segments of the panels to which it is attached.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the removable lock member 38 includes a generally V- shaped main body portion 40 having a predetermined included angle A(see FIG. 3) between its arms. The angle Acan be changed by manually bending the V- shaped body portion 40 at its apex. This feature adds to the versatility of the hunting blind of the present invention by permitting the panels 12 to be locked in any desired angular relationship. Further, the lock member 38 includes a generally U-shaped first end 42 and an identical U-shaped second end 44 which engage the arcuately shaped ends 26 and 28 of the intermediate cross member 22a and 22b to maintain a predetermined angle between adjacent panels 12. The lock members 38 are removable so that the blind 10 may be disassembled or collapsed for transport.

With reference to FIG. 8, there is shown a blind 110 having four panels 12 and a removable over head support structure 46. The overhead support structure 46 is illustrated as being formed of two spaced parallel rods 48, 49, each having its ends 50, 51 and 52, 53, respectively, downwardly depending therefrom. Ring members 54, 55 and 56, 57 are connected to the top cross members 18 of generally oppositely located panels 12. The depending ends 50, 52 of rods 48, 49 are received in ring members 54, 55, respectively, and the depending ends 51, 53 of rods 48, 49 are received in ring members 56, 57 respectively, to support the overhead support structure 46 across the top of the hunters blind 110. This overhead structure 46 has two functions; first, it adds rigidity to the hunters blind, and

second, it support a fabric ceiling 58 over the hunt ers blind 10 (see FIG. 7). The lock members 38 are bent as previously described to an appropriate angle to permit the use of the four panels 12.

A flexible, fabric material wall covering 60 is removably attached to the wall frame structure to provide cover and concealment to the hunter using the blind 10. The attachment means comprises a plurality of tabs 62 at spaced intervals around the periphery of the wall covering 60. A typical tab 62 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and includes a standard fastener, such a snap comprising a male element 64 and a female element 66. The male element 64 is located near one end of the tab 62 and the female element 66 is located near the other end of the tab 62. The tab 62 is looped around the top cross member 18 or the standard 14, 16 of the panel 12 and the ends are fastened together by snapping the male element 64 in the female element 66 in the conventional manner.

FIG. 6 illustrates a hunters blind 210 having three panels 12 and closable shooting openings 68 in each panel 12. These closable openings 68 are incorporated in the wall covering 60 by including tabs 62 to engage the intennediate cross member 22a (FIG. 1). A shooting opening is formed by disengaging the tabs 62 from the top cross member 18 and allowing the wall covering 60 to drape downwardly supported by the tabs 62 around the intermediate cross member 22a to the position shown on the left panel 12 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows a hunters blind and shelter 310 having four panels 12 and a ceiling 58 with downwardly depending flanges 59 adapted to fit over the top of the blind 10. The preferably water resistent ceiling 58 includes a back flap 70 to close the back portion of the blind and create an enclosed shelter to protect the hunter from inclement weather.

It has been found that the distance, i.e., somewhat less than one third the distance between cross members 18 and 20, between the top cross member 18 and the upper intermediate cross member 22a is more than sufficient to accommodate a hunter with rifle or other type of gun. However, an archer due to his particular weaponry requires more vertical latitude than a hunter with a gun. Therefore, a shown in FIG. 9, the hunters blind 10 of the present invention may be easily adapted to accommodate archers by simply inverting the panels 12 from the position shown in FIG. 1. With the panel 12 in the inverted position, the blind l0 permits greater vertical latitude for the archer since the distance between the cross members 20 and 22b is substantially greater than the distance between cross members 18 and 22a, as has been previously described.

The wall covering 60 of the hunters blind 10 shown in FIG. 9 is also provided with three tabs 62 looped around the cross member 20 on each panel. With three tabs 62, an end tab 62 (as shown), or alternatively an end and a middle tab 62, may be disengaged from the cross member 20 to provide a generally triangular viewing window through the wall covering 60 as opposed to the rectangular window shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate hunters blinds and shelters of five different configurations and sizes, all of which are formed of various numbers of panels 12. These various configurations can be constructed at the hunting site with the S-shaped hinges 30 and lock members 38 without the use of tools. Thus, the blind and shelter 10 can be varied to conform to suit the number of hunters in ahunting party and the situation and terrain presented at the hunting site. 7

While the particularhunters blind of the present invention can, of course, be used for any type of hunting, it has been found to be especially useful for archery hunting and hunting with guns.

The foregoing detailed descriptions are given primarily for clarity of understanding and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for other modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing form the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A portable hunters blind and shelter, comprising:

a plurality of generally rectangular panels;

a plurality of removable hinges interconnecting adjacently disposed panels to allow pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges;

a plurality of removable angularly adjustable lock members which releasably engage adjacently disposed panels to retain said panels in a predetermined angular relationship with each other by restraining pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges;

a wall,

means to removably attach said wall to said panels to provide cover and concealment for the hunter using said hunters blind,

wherein each of said panels comprises:

two spaced apart generally parallel standards;

a top cross member disposed generally perpendicularly to said standards, and being connected at one of its ends to one end of one of said standards and being connected at the other of its ends to one end of the other of said standards;

a bottom cross member disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said top cross member, and being connected at one of its ends to the other end of said one of said standards and being connected at the other of its ends to the other end of said other of said standards;

at least one intermediate cross member disposed between and parallel to said top cross member and said bottom cross member, said intermediate cross member having two arcuately shaped ends concavely facing toward each other, each of said arcuate ends being connected to a different one of said standards, and wherein said removable lock member comprises:

a generally V-shaped main body portion having a predetemined included angle;

a generally U-shaped first end;

a generally U-shaped second end;

said first and second generally U-shaped ends each engage a different one of said arcuately shaped ends of said intermediate cross members to maintain a predetermined angular relationship between said adjacently disposed panels.

2. The hunters blind as defined in claim 1 and in which said V-shaped main body is bendable to vary said predetermine angle to permit adjustment of the relative angle between said panels.

3. A hunters blind and shelter as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said hinges are generally S-shaped and have an opening into each of the loops forming the S-shape through which one of said standards passes to be clampingly received in one of said loops; adjacent standards of adjacent panels being received in different loopsof said S-shaped hinges; and

a lip formed in said hinge adjacent each of said openings to guide said standard into said opening and to function as a cam surface which coacts with said standard to temporarily increase the size of the opening to allow said standard to enter said loop.

4. A hunters blind and shelter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to removably attach said wall to said panels comprises:

a plurality of first elongated tabs attached to said wall at spaced intervals around the periphery of said wall; and

a plurality of first fasteners each having a male element attached to one end of one of said first elongated tabs and a female element attached to the other end of one of said first elongated tabs, said wall being attached to said panels by disposing each of said first elongated tabs about predetermined said standards and predetermined top cross members and fastening the opposite ends of each of said first tabs together by engaging said female components and said male components wherein said wall includes at least one closable shooting opening which closable shooting opening comprises:

a plurality of second elongated tabs attached to said wall and positioned substantially adjacent a predetermined one of said intermediate cross members; and

a plurality of said second fasteners each having a male element attached to one end of said second elongated tabs and a female element attached to the other end of one of said second elongated tabs;

each of said second elongated tabs being disposed about said predetermined one of said intermediate cross members and having said opposite ends of each one of said second tabs fastened together by engaging said male and female components, and said shooting opening is formed by unfastening said first fasteners attaching said wall to one of said top cross members immediately over said predetermined intermediate cross member and allowing a portion of said material to drape from said second fasteners disposed about said predetermined intermediate cross member.

5. A portable hunters blind and shelter, comprising:

a plurality of generally rectangular panels;

a plurality of removable hinges interconnecting adjacently disposed panels to allow pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges;

a plurality of removable angularly adjustable lock members which releasably engage adjacently disposed panels to retain said panels in a predetermined angular relationship with each other by restraining pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges;

a wall,

means to removably attach said wall to said panels to provide cover and concealment for the hunter using said hunters blind, wherein each of said panels comprises:

two spaced apart generally parallel standards;

a top cross member disposed generally perpendicularly to said standards, and being connected at one through which one of said standards passes to be clampingly received in one of said loops;

adjacent standards of adjacent panels being received in different loops of said S-shaped hinges; and

a lip formed in said hinge adjacent each of said openings to guide said standard into said opening and to function as a cam surface which coacts with said standard to temporarily increase the size of the opening to allow said standard to enter said loop. 

1. A portable hunter''s blind and shelter, comprising: a plurality of generally rectangular panels; a plurality of removable hinges interconnecting adjacently disposed panels to allow pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges; a plurality of removable angularly adjustable lock members wHich releasably engage adjacently disposed panels to retain said panels in a predetermined angular relationship with each other by restraining pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges; a wall, means to removably attach said wall to said panels to provide cover and concealment for the hunter using said hunter''s blind, wherein each of said panels comprises: two spaced apart generally parallel standards; a top cross member disposed generally perpendicularly to said standards, and being connected at one of its ends to one end of one of said standards and being connected at the other of its ends to one end of the other of said standards; a bottom cross member disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said top cross member, and being connected at one of its ends to the other end of said one of said standards and being connected at the other of its ends to the other end of said other of said standards; at least one intermediate cross member disposed between and parallel to said top cross member and said bottom cross member, said intermediate cross member having two arcuately shaped ends concavely facing toward each other, each of said arcuate ends being connected to a different one of said standards, and wherein said removable lock member comprises: a generally V-shaped main body portion having a predetemined included angle; a generally U-shaped first end; a generally U-shaped second end; said first and second generally U-shaped ends each engage a different one of said arcuately shaped ends of said intermediate cross members to maintain a predetermined angular relationship between said adjacently disposed panels.
 2. The hunter''s blind as defined in claim 1 and in which said V-shaped main body is bendable to vary said predetermine angle to permit adjustment of the relative angle between said panels.
 3. A hunter''s blind and shelter as defined in claim 1 wherein: said hinges are generally S-shaped and have an opening into each of the loops forming the S-shape through which one of said standards passes to be clampingly received in one of said loops; adjacent standards of adjacent panels being received in different loops of said S-shaped hinges; and a lip formed in said hinge adjacent each of said openings to guide said standard into said opening and to function as a cam surface which coacts with said standard to temporarily increase the size of the opening to allow said standard to enter said loop.
 4. A hunter''s blind and shelter as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to removably attach said wall to said panels comprises: a plurality of first elongated tabs attached to said wall at spaced intervals around the periphery of said wall; and a plurality of first fasteners each having a male element attached to one end of one of said first elongated tabs and a female element attached to the other end of one of said first elongated tabs, said wall being attached to said panels by disposing each of said first elongated tabs about predetermined said standards and predetermined top cross members and fastening the opposite ends of each of said first tabs together by engaging said female components and said male components wherein said wall includes at least one closable shooting opening which closable shooting opening comprises: a plurality of second elongated tabs attached to said wall and positioned substantially adjacent a predetermined one of said intermediate cross members; and a plurality of said second fasteners each having a male element attached to one end of said second elongated tabs and a female element attached to the other end of one of said second elongated tabs; each of said second elongated tabs being disposed about said predetermined one of said intermediate cross members and having said opposite ends of each one of said second tabs fastened together by engaging said male and female components, and said shooting opening is formed by unfastening said first fasteners attaching said wall to one of said top cross members immediately over said predetermined intermediate cross member and allowing a portion of said material to drape from said second fasteners disposed about said predetermined intermediate cross member.
 5. A portable hunter''s blind and shelter, comprising: a plurality of generally rectangular panels; a plurality of removable hinges interconnecting adjacently disposed panels to allow pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges; a plurality of removable angularly adjustable lock members which releasably engage adjacently disposed panels to retain said panels in a predetermined angular relationship with each other by restraining pivotal movement of said panels about said hinges; a wall, means to removably attach said wall to said panels to provide cover and concealment for the hunter using said hunter''s blind, wherein each of said panels comprises: two spaced apart generally parallel standards; a top cross member disposed generally perpendicularly to said standards, and being connected at one of its ends to one end of one of said standards and being connected at the other of its ends to one end of the other of said standards; a bottom cross member disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said top cross member, and being connected at one of its ends to the other end of said one of said standards and being connected at the other of its ends to the other end of said other of said standards, and wherein said hinges are generally S-shaped and have an opening into each of the loops forming the S-shape through which one of said standards passes to be clampingly received in one of said loops; adjacent standards of adjacent panels being received in different loops of said S-shaped hinges; and a lip formed in said hinge adjacent each of said openings to guide said standard into said opening and to function as a cam surface which coacts with said standard to temporarily increase the size of the opening to allow said standard to enter said loop. 